Which statement about a business associate agreement is NOT true?

The statement regarding business associate agreements that is NOT true is the one suggesting that it allows the associate to maintain PHI indefinitely. Business associate agreements are designed to ensure that the handling of protected health information (PHI) aligns with the regulations established by HIPAA. One of the key components of these agreements is that they often specify the duration for which PHI can be retained, typically tied to the terms of the agreement and operational needs. Data retention policies must comply with legal requirements and are generally subject to specific time limits rather than being indefinite, thus ensuring that PHI does not remain accessible longer than necessary.

This aligns with the principles of data minimization and purpose limitation outlined in HIPAA, which stress that PHI should only be kept for as long as it serves a legitimate purpose. Other options accurately reflect the responsibilities imposed on business associates, such as the prohibition of unauthorized uses or disclosures of PHI and the requirement to make records available for compliance verification.